History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.299.4

v7.c91.299.4

'that man in whom there is truth and righteousness is blessed and is a brāhmaṇa', 'him who does not cling to desires (or pleasures) as water does not stick to a lotus leaf or as a mustard grain (does not stick) on the top of an awl, I call a brāhmaṇa.'¹⁶⁴⁰ Moreover, it does not appear that at any time the whole of India or even large portions of it were completely Buddhistic. The people of India as a whole were always Hindus.¹⁶⁴¹ There were many millions of people at all times who professed Hinduism and not Buddhism. Besides, even when Buddhism secured the patronage of emperors like Aśoka, Kaniṣka and Harṣa, Buddhism was mainly restricted to monasteries and schools and great tolerance prevailed. For example, Harṣa's father was a great devotee of the Sun and he himself is described in his Banskhera and Madhuban plates as a great devotee of Śiva, though his elder brother Rājyavardhana is described as *paramasaugata* (a great devotee of Buddha) and he appears to have shown favour to the Buddhist pilgrim (Yuan Chwang).¹⁶⁴²